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How to Make Gumpaste Calla Lilies
You can make gumpaste calla lilies with just a few simple tools, some gumpaste, and a bit of patience.
Learning how to make gumpaste calla lilies is one of the most rewarding skills for any cake decorator, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro.
These elegant flowers are surprisingly simple to create because they have a clean, trumpet-like shape that doesn’t require intricate petals or complex wiring.
In this post, we’ll break down the entire process of how to make gumpaste calla lilies step by step, including the best gumpaste to use, the essential tools, and tips for coloring and assembling your flowers.
Let’s dive into the wonderful world of gumpaste calla lilies and get your hands dusted with cornstarch.
Why Making Gumpaste Calla Lilies Is So Simple
The reason so many decorators love making gumpaste calla lilies is that they don’t need dozens of petals or complicated wiring techniques.
A calla lily is essentially one large, graceful petal that wraps around a central spadix, which makes the whole process much more forgiving than other flowers.
When you learn how to make gumpaste calla lilies, you’re mastering a single petal shape that can be adapted to any size, color, or style you need.
This is why gumpaste calla lilies are a favorite for wedding cakes, bridal showers, and elegant birthday cakes.
1. The Right Gumpaste Makes All the Difference
Before you start making gumpaste calla lilies, you need to choose a good quality gumpaste that dries hard and holds its shape well.
You can use store-bought gumpaste, or you can make your own from scratch using tylose powder and fondant.
For making gumpaste calla lilies, a firmer paste is always better because it will hold that rolled petal shape without slumping.
If your gumpaste feels sticky, dust your work surface and rolling pin with a little cornstarch or vegetable shortening.
2. Essential Tools for Gumpaste Calla Lilies
You don’t need a massive toolkit to make gumpaste calla lilies, but a few essentials will make the job much easier.
Grab a rolling pin, a sharp knife or pizza cutter, a calla lily cutter or a simple teardrop cutter, and a foam pad for thinning edges.
You’ll also want a ball tool or a dogbone tool to soften the edges of the petal, plus some floral wire and tape if you plan to add stems.
Having these tools ready before you start making gumpaste calla lilies will keep the process smooth and fun.
3. Color Your Gumpaste Before Shaping
The easiest way to add color to your gumpaste calla lilies is to knead gel food coloring directly into the paste before you roll it out.
If you’re making gumpaste calla lilies in classic white, you can leave the paste plain, but for pink, yellow, orange, or even black calla lilies, color the paste thoroughly.
Use a toothpick to add a tiny dot of color at a time, then knead until the shade is even.
You can also dust the finished petals with petal dust after they dry for a more realistic, gradient effect.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Gumpaste Calla Lilies
Now that you have your materials ready, let’s walk through the exact process of making gumpaste calla lilies from start to finish.
Follow these steps carefully, and you’ll have a stunning batch of flowers ready for your cake.
1. Roll and Cut Your Petal
Start by rolling out a small ball of gumpaste into a thin, even sheet about 1/8 inch thick.
Use your calla lily cutter or a teardrop template to cut out one petal shape per flower.
If you don’t have a cutter, you can freehand the shape with a sharp knife by cutting a teardrop that tapers to a point at one end.
The size of your petal determines the final size of your gumpaste calla lilies, so make it as large or as small as you want.
2. Thin Out the Petal Edges
Place your cut petal on a foam pad and use a ball tool to gently press around the edges, working from the center outward.
This thins the edges and gives the petal a delicate, natural look that makes your gumpaste calla lilies appear more realistic.
Be careful not to tear the gumpaste, and keep your fingers dusted with cornstarch to prevent sticking.
The goal is to have a petal that’s thicker in the middle and whisper-thin at the edges.
3. Create the Center Spadix
The spadix is the tall, finger-like center of the calla lily, and it’s essential for making gumpaste calla lilies look authentic.
Roll a small piece of gumpaste into a narrow cone or cylinder, about 1 to 1.5 inches long.
You can leave it in the same color as the petal, or dye it yellow to mimic the real flower’s center.
Insert a length of floral wire into the base of the spadix if you want to attach a stem later.
Allow the spadix to dry for about 10 minutes so it holds its shape when you wrap the petal around it.
4. Wrap the Petal Around the Spadix
Now for the fun part of making gumpaste calla lilies: bring the two sides of the petal together and wrap them around the spadix.
The pointed tip of the petal should be at one end, and the wide, rounded base should wrap around the spadix at the other.
Gently fold the left edge over the spadix, then bring the right edge over the left, creating a lovely spiral or trumpet shape.
Pinch the base of the flower to seal the gumpaste together, and smooth any seams with your fingertip.
5. Curl the Top Edge for Elegance
To make your gumpaste calla lilies look even more graceful, gently curl the top edge of the petal outward and backward.
This creates a beautiful, flared opening that mimics the natural bloom of a calla lily.
You can shape the curl with your fingers or use a small paintbrush handle to press the edge outward.
Take your time with this step because the curl is what gives the flower its signature elegance.
6. Dry Your Gumpaste Calla Lilies
The most important step in making gumpaste calla lilies is to let them dry completely before you use them on a cake.
If you used floral wire, you can hang the flower upside down from a wire rack or stand it upright in a styrofoam block.
If there’s no wire, place the flower on a curved surface like a clean, dried spoon or a flower former so the petal keeps its shape.
Allow 24 to 48 hours for the gumpaste calla lilies to dry completely, depending on the humidity in your kitchen.
Tips for Perfect Gumpaste Calla Lilies Every Time
Once you’ve mastered the basic method for making gumpaste calla lilies, there are a few professional tricks that will elevate your results.
These tips will help you avoid common pitfalls and ensure your gumpaste calla lilies look amazing on every cake.
1. Keep Your Gumpaste Covered
Gumpaste dries out very quickly, so always keep the unused portion wrapped in plastic wrap or inside a zip-top bag.
When making gumpaste calla lilies, work with a single ball at a time and keep the rest covered.
If you notice cracks forming on the surface, knead in a tiny bit of vegetable shortening to soften it back up.
2. Use Cornstarch to Prevent Sticking
Dust your work surface, rolling pin, and fingers with cornstarch frequently while making gumpaste calla lilies.
This prevents the delicate petal from tearing or sticking to your tools.
Brush off any excess cornstarch before wrapping the petal so you don’t get white marks on colored gumpaste.
3. Add a Stem for Arrangements
If you’re using your gumpaste calla lilies in a large bouquet or a cake topper, you’ll want to add a floral wire stem before the gumpaste dries.
Wrap the base of the flower with floral tape, then gently bend the wire to the desired angle once the flower is dry.
This makes it easy to insert your gumpaste calla lilies into a cake or a floral foam block.
4. Experiment with Sizes and Colors
Don’t be afraid to play with scale when making gumpaste calla lilies, because mini calla lilies are adorable for smaller cakes and cupcakes.
Similarly, you can create dramatic oversized calla lilies by rolling the gumpaste thinner and cutting a much larger petal.
The color possibilities are endless, so try pastel pinks, bold burgundy, or even a two-tone effect by painting the edges with edible luster dust.
So, How Do You Make Gumpaste Calla Lilies?
Making gumpaste calla lilies is a simple, satisfying process that anyone can learn.
You make gumpaste calla lilies by rolling a thin petal, thinning the edges, wrapping it around a spadix, and letting it dry.
The entire process takes only a few minutes per flower, and the results are stunning, elegant, and bakery-worthy.
With the right gumpaste, a few basic tools, and some creative coloring, you can make gumpaste calla lilies that look just like the real thing.
Whether you’re decorating a wedding cake, a birthday cake, or a simple dessert table, these gorgeous flowers will elevate your design beautifully.
So grab your gumpaste, roll out a petal, and enjoy the joy of making gumpaste calla lilies today.